Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

On S side of Cloyne village; sub-rectangular graveyard (c. 120m E-W; c. 80m N-S) enclosed by stone wall; Cloyne cathedral (CO088-019006-) on W side adjacent to road. Large collection of 18th-century headstones dating from 1706 (Westropp 1917-19; O'Shea 1988); headstone dated 1726 decorated with 'Instruments of the Passion' very similar to plaque from Corkbeg (CO088-033001-); also some low uninscribed gravemarkers. Graveyard in occasional use. Caulfield (1882, 24) records an order in 1721 to level 'churchyard' and 'a new row of trees planted'; plan of 1743 (ibid., facing p. 30) shows two lines of trees around boundary of graveyard. This plan also shows remains small rectangular structure (axis E-W) (CO088-019011-), with pathway running through it, near NE corner of graveyard; according to Caulfield (ibid., 31) this had 'been traditionally called the "Fire House", and said to be the remains of a pagan structure'. Coleman (1910, 142) notes tradition tha there 'were preserved the relics of St. Colman' until 'taken up and removed, and the building nearly razed to the ground' in the 18th century. Another tradition associates it with a 'Sacred Fire such as that which was kept up by the Nuns of St. Brigid in Kildare's Holy Shrine' (ibid.). All that appears to survive of this structure is featureless section of walling (H c. 0.45m), apparently E wall (L 6m), with short returns to W at either end; now bordering recent grave plots.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009